The Territory Labor Government today delivered Budget 2019 which Puts Territorians First by investing in creating local jobs, delivering a safer Territory and driving generational change.
Budget 2019 continues delivering on Government’s economic plans with the Treasurer today announcing $8.4 million over two years for a new skills training package to prepare Territorians for jobs and confirming another big job-creating infrastructure spend of $1.45 billion.
Significantly, the Budget 19 forward estimates show that Government’s plans are working and the economy is beginning to turn around as the Territory transitions from the Inpex construction phase wind down.
It also starts delivering on the Plan to Fix the Territory Budget, outlined last month, to address the $876 million deficit left by the former CLP Government and the massive $500 million annual Federal Government GST cuts, to reach a balanced budget in 2027/28.
To Put Territorians First, Budget 2019 invests in:
• The most generous homebuyer assistance in the country ($16.6M)
• Support for families to manage the cost of childcare ($6M), education ($7.1M) and sports activities ($5.4M)
• Support for seniors through the NT concession and seniors recognition scheme ($31.64M)
• Subsidies to keep saving Territory families $1200 a year off their power bills ($92.5M)
• Ongoing Buy Local support to back Territory business
Key announcements regarding investing in creating local jobs, delivering a safer Territory and driving generational change are:
Local Jobs:
· $1.45 billion Infrastructure investment
· $62.8 million over two-years for tourism package Turbo2 (following the success of Turbo-charging 1).
· $8.4 million over two years for a new skills training package
· $1.56 million over two-years for Significant Project Champions
A Safer Territory:
· Funding to complete the 120 Police and 75 Police Auxiliary Liquor Inspectors (PALI) recruitment in 2019
· $34 million to tackle alcohol abuse
· $8.95 million to tackle anti-social behaviour
· $10.3 million over three years to provide better sentencing options for courts and to support youth justice programs
Generational change:
· Continue delivering of Labor Government’s $1.1 billion investment into remote housing
· $35.6 million over four years for Government’s Early Childhood Development Plan. In 2019/20 this will include expanding Maternal Early Childhood Sustained Home visiting program, expanding the Healthy Under-5 Kids program, establishing seven Families as First Teachers sites and four new Hearing Health Partnership locations.
· $11.4 million over four years to establish a network of 17 child and family centres by 2022‑23 to deliver targeted and coordinated support to families. This includes five sites to be established in 2019‑20
· $1.28 billion to deliver the best possible education for children
· $1.72 billion for high quality, sustainable health services
For more information on Budget 2019, visit www.budget.nt.gov.au or see attached fact sheets.
Treasurer Nicole Manison said:
“Budget 19 puts Territorians first by investing in creating local jobs, delivering a safer Territory and driving generational change.
“Our Government understands that the Territory’s economic, social and budget challenges must be tackled together – you can’t fix one if you ignore the others.
“Only a Territory Labor Government will invest in creating local jobs, delivering a safer Territory and driving generational change – the CLP will slash and burn and cut. They did it before and will do it again.
“While big challenges remain, Budget 19 shows that the Territory Labor Government’s plans are beginning to work and the economy is starting to improve after a tough few years.
“Budget 19 invests to keep driving that economic improvement by putting Territorian first with the most generous homebuyer assistance in the country, support for families to manage the cost of childcare, education and sports, support for senior and subsidies to keep saving Territory families $1200 a year off their power bills.
“It features serious investment in creating local jobs through another big infrastructure spending, a new skills training package, funding to drive private investment and money for Turbo Charging Tourism two.
“It investment in safer communities by funding in more police and resources to tackle anti-social behaviour and alcohol-fuelled crime plus extra programs and infrastructure to teach young offenders consequences and get them on a better path and away from a life of crime.
“And it invests in generational change through better remote housing, education and health because that is good for every Territorian.”
Media Contact – Hannah Farmer - 0428 497 154